<i>Above, a satellite image of glacial recession in the Ilulissat Icefjord</i>
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In the center of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/cancun">Cancun</a>, amidst circus shows, live bands and baby rent-a-cars, there's an installation of powerful photos. They're satellite images of the ravages of climate change, documented by <a title="UNESCO" href="http://whc.unesco.org/">UNESCO</a>. In them, Venice is flooding. Glaciers are dissolving. Water levels and temperatures are rising. Right there, in your face, a reminder of our fragile planet and the discussions attempting to preserve it. They are not what you would expect to see while eating your cotton candy, but fascinating nonetheless. Read on to learn more about this urgent installation.

1

Coral Bleaching Satellite Image

Believe it or not, corals are losing their color due to environmental stress.

2

Altai Satellite Image

Global warming is causing a loss of permafrost in the Altai region of Siberia where the ancient Scythians built their burial tombs.

3

Mt. Everest Satellite Image

A dramatic shot of the shrinking glaciers of Mount Everest.

4

Venice Satellite Image

Venice has been, and still is, flooding. In the recent past, the frequency of flooding and damage to the city has increased tremendously: eight of the ten highest tides of the past century have occurred since 1960.

5

Flood Threat in Cancun Satellite Image

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change forecasts that future hurricanes in Cancun will almost certainly be more intense.

6

North America Satellite Image

A panel depicting the effects of climate change on North America. The United States and Canada account respectively for 23% and 2.2% of global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions.

7

UNESCO Cancun Project 2

<a href="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/11/unesco-coral-bleaching.jpg"></a>
Each panel is free-standing, with images on either side, and text in English, Spanish and French. They're arranged in a semi-circle around a central square downtown. Rather than disrupting the space, they act as dual-purpose fencing....<br><br><a href='http://inhabitat.com/cop16-images-of-climate-catastrophe-the-center-of-cancun/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

8

UNESCO Cancun Project 4

<a href="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/11/unesco-coral-bleaching.jpg"></a>
Each panel is free-standing, with images on either side, and text in English, Spanish and French. They're arranged in a semi-circle around a central square downtown. Rather than disrupting the space, they act as dual-purpose fencing....<br><br><a href='http://inhabitat.com/cop16-images-of-climate-catastrophe-the-center-of-cancun/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

9

UNESCO Cancun Project 5

<a href="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/11/unesco-coral-bleaching.jpg"></a>
Each panel is free-standing, with images on either side, and text in English, Spanish and French. They're arranged in a semi-circle around a central square downtown. Rather than disrupting the space, they act as dual-purpose fencing....<br><br><a href='http://inhabitat.com/cop16-images-of-climate-catastrophe-the-center-of-cancun/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

10

UNESCO Cancun Project 7

<a href="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/11/unesco-coral-bleaching.jpg"></a>
Each panel is free-standing, with images on either side, and text in English, Spanish and French. They're arranged in a semi-circle around a central square downtown. Rather than disrupting the space, they act as dual-purpose fencing....<br><br><a href='http://inhabitat.com/cop16-images-of-climate-catastrophe-the-center-of-cancun/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

11

UNESCO Project 3

<a href="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/11/unesco-coral-bleaching.jpg"></a>
Each panel is free-standing, with images on either side, and text in English, Spanish and French. They're arranged in a semi-circle around a central square downtown. Rather than disrupting the space, they act as dual-purpose fencing....<br><br><a href='http://inhabitat.com/cop16-images-of-climate-catastrophe-the-center-of-cancun/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

12

UNESCO Project 6

<a href="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/11/unesco-coral-bleaching.jpg"></a>
Each panel is free-standing, with images on either side, and text in English, Spanish and French. They're arranged in a semi-circle around a central square downtown. Rather than disrupting the space, they act as dual-purpose fencing....<br><br><a href='http://inhabitat.com/cop16-images-of-climate-catastrophe-the-center-of-cancun/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

13

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Ice Fjord Satellite Image

Above, a satellite image of glacial recession in the Ilulissat Icefjord

In the center of Cancun, amidst circus shows, live bands and baby rent-a-cars, there's an installation of powerful photos. They're satellite images of the ravages of climate change, documented by UNESCO. In them, Venice is flooding. Glaciers are dissolving. Water levels and temperatures are rising. Right there, in your face, a reminder of our fragile planet and the discussions attempting to preserve it. They are not what you would expect to see while eating your cotton candy, but fascinating nonetheless. Read on to learn more about this urgent installation.